Lara Trump, wife of Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump, finds herself at the center of controversy once again as her acoustic rendition of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” stirs the online community. This follows her previous cover release in September, which attracted attention due to a cease-and-desist letter from Petty’s family after the song’s unauthorized use at a 2020 campaign rally.
Alleging suppression of her cover on Apple Music previously, Lara Trump has now turned her attention to Spotify, claiming the platform has yet to approve her latest acoustic version. Via social media, she declared, “Suppression of my newest acoustic single, I Won’t Back Down, has already begun. Spotify hasn’t yet ‘approved’ it (for reasons they cannot explain) but, you can find it everywhere else!!”
Newsweek sought comments from Lara Trump, Tom Petty’s estate, and Spotify. By Sunday, Lara Trump shared a video clip of her performing the track, announcing that it was “(Finally) available everywhere!!!” Newsweek independently verified its presence on Spotify by Monday.
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However, Lara Trump’s decision to release a second cover has divided opinions online. Criticism ranged from describing it as cringe-worthy to comparing her voice to a “5th grader singing in a school play,” while others expressed support, with one user calling her “an American gem.”
Tom Petty’s daughter, Annakim, entered the fray, expressing her sentiments on Lara Trump’s cover. In a candid statement, she refuted Lara Trump’s claim that Spotify prevented her cover, labeling the rendition as “horse crap.” Annakim expressed her stance, stating no one associated with Tom Petty’s official channels has attempted to halt the use of the song.
Annakim has contacted their team to inquire about donating royalties from Lara Trump’s cover to causes supporting transgender youth or groups targeted by the Trumps. She humorously addressed the situation with “psycho Trump Tom Petty fans,” deeming it undesirable. Annakim emphasized the essence of the song, portraying it as a message about overcoming individuals like the Trump family.
In a direct quote, Annakim stated, “To beat a dead horse … no one, I mean, no one @tompettyofficial has tried to stop this song. I have emailed our team asking if any royalties from this can be donated to transgender youth or any group targeted by the Trumps. She claims Spotify is stopping her cover… the truth remains the cover is horse crap. I will update WTF happens with this song. Also, waking up to psycho Trump Tom Petty fans is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. This song is about overcoming assholes like the Trump family. I will continue to track this turkey into the ground. I won’t back down trash.”
